amino acid
US /ˌæm.ɪ.noʊ ˈæs.ɪd/
UK /ˌæm.ɪ.noʊ ˈæs.ɪd/
1.
a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins.
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Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids.
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Certain foods are rich in essential amino acids.